Municipality rescue program saves thousands of animals

Thousands of stray animals have been taken in from the streets as a part of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's animal-rehabilitation program.

Thousands of stray animals have been taken in from the streets as a part of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s animal-rehabilitation program.

Launched by the municipality and the social-service directorate in 2004, the program has taken in a total of 42,900 stray animals from both the European and Asian sides of the city.

After they are picked up, stray animals are taken to the Hasdal and Tuzla rehabilitation centers, where they are first given an extensive checkup and then treated for any infections or wounds. The animals are also given the required vaccinations.

A team of nine veterinarians working at the rehabilitation center has successfully restored more than 29,000 animals to full health through the treatment administered.

After the animals are treated, social workers start a search process to find people to adopt them. A total of 4,281 animals have been placed in homes as a result of this effort.

In 2006, the Istanbul municipality started to place microchips under the animals’ skin that contain various pieces of information, including the dates they were treated, what treatments or vaccinations were given and where and in what condition the animals were found before being taken to the rehabilitation centers.

The microchips also include contact details of the vets who carried out the treatment, allowing the animals’ progress to be monitored closely and further treatment to be carried out accurately.